Dog Bite Injury Cases
At the Hastings Law Firm, we recently secured a successful settlement for a client who suffered severe injuries in a dog attack that occurred at the dog owner’s residence. Many law firms steer away from taking on dog attack cases due to lack of insurance coverage. Many years ago, homeowners’ insurance policies began summarily excluding dogs and animals from being covered. However, I have found that more recently, many homeowners and insurance agents have been including this important coverage in their policies. When clients ask me to investigate these losses, I diligently seek the homeowners’ insurance. Recently, I have represented several clients where the homeowner’s coverage covered dog attacks. So I am optimistic that the trend of no coverage on these polices is changing.
On the recent case we settled, it involved an attack by a small dog that resulted in significant facial trauma, including permanent scarring, facial disfigurement, and nerve damage. According to the treating plastic surgeon, the injuries required plastic surgery and could necessitate additional reconstructive procedures in the future. Beyond the physical pain and extensive medical treatment, injuries of this nature can have a profound emotional and psychological impact on a victim’s daily life and self-confidence.
There are some misunderstandings about Florida law as it relates to dog bite cases. Under Florida law, dog owners will be held liable when their dog bites another person, even if the dog has never previously displayed aggressive behavior. Florida Statute §767.04 states:
“The owner of any dog that bites any person while such person is on or in a public place, or lawfully on or in a private place, including the property of the owner of the dog, is liable for damages suffered by persons bitten, regardless of the former viciousness of the dog or the owners’ knowledge of such viciousness.”
This is what we call strict liability…or liability that is automatic if an incident occurs. The statute and law do have exceptions to this rule. But in our recent case, our client did nothing to cause the dog to attack. It was an unprovoked bite, which falls squarely under the strict liability portion of the statue.
At Hastings Law Firm, we worked diligently to establish this liability, gather the necessary medical evidence, and document the full extent of our client’s injuries and future treatment needs. By presenting a comprehensive claim that included a video documentary featuring before-and-after photographs, statements from the plaintiff and family members, and the opinions of the treating plastic surgeon, we were able to clearly demonstrate the devastating impact of the attack and the need for future medical care. This thorough presentation of the evidence helped achieve a favorable settlement on our client’s behalf.
Dog bite injuries are often far more serious than many people realize. Victims may face extensive medical care, plastic and reconstructive surgeries, nerve injuries, permanent scarring, and long-term emotional trauma. Understanding the full scope of these damages is essential to securing fair compensation. We went the extra mile to create this video because…let’s face it…a picture or video can be worth a thousand words. Sometimes an adjuster at insurance company cannot understand the full impact a dog attack has on a person absent seeing a video, showing it.
Our strategy worked for this client. The recent case settled for the policy limits in a confidential settlement.
If you or a loved one has been injured in a dog attack, it is important to seek medical attention immediately. Moreover, you can contact me any time and on any day of the week to guide you through the process to recovery. At Hastings Law Firm, our commitment remains unchanged: Clients Come First. If you, a family member or friend have been attacked by a dog, the Hastings Law Firm is here to help. All consultations are complimentary, and we never charge you a fee unless we can make you a recovery.